Rome (AFP)

With Rafael Nadal back after a six-month forced break and Novak Djokovic seeking redemption following his disqualification from the US Open, the short clay-court season began Monday in Rome, without spectators.

While waiting for the entry into the running of the two stars (the first eight seeds are exempted in the 1st round), the 1st round has already been fatal to Frenchman Benoît Paire.

Excluded from the US Open then placed in isolation in New York after having tested positive for the new coronavirus, the French (24th), nervous, never entered his match against the Italian Jannik Sinner (81st) which won easily in just over an hour (6-2, 6-1).

Like every year, it is already a little Roland-Garros that is announced (September 27-October 11) when the first balls resound at the Masters 1000 in Rome.

And yet, the empty bleachers under the gaze of the white statues of the Foro Italico recall how the pandemic has turned the calendar upside down.

"Obviously, it's not the same thing, there is no public, we are in a bubble. But at least we have a tennis tournament", underlined in a press conference Rafael Nadal, who will play his first competitive game since late February in Acapulco.

- Djokovic in a hurry -

Professional tennis was shut down from March to early August.

Then the world No. 2 gave up the post-Covid-19 American tour, notably evoking the "madness" of the new calendar.

"Without regret," Nadal assured about this American impasse.

And its shape?

"As usual, maybe a little worse, because I haven't played for six months ..."

"Clay is its surface, I'm sure it will be level," said Stefanos Tsitsipas (N.6) of him.

By resuming on his favorite surface, Nadal spares the brutal hard / clay transition that awaits the participants of the US Open.

But the Spaniard will have to get up to speed very quickly because in the second round he is offered a fit man, his compatriot Pablo Carreno (27th), recent semi-finalist at the US Open (he too is exempt from the first match in Rome).

Novak Djokovic, who made nine finals in Rome (for four titles), for his part is eager to turn the page of his spectacular disqualification in the round of 16 of the US Open, after throwing the ball involuntarily at a linesman .

"The sooner I return to competition, the sooner I will overcome this memory", launched the world No.1 to the press, not disputing the decision: "When you hit a ball like I did, you have a chance to hit someone on the court. The rules are clear, I accepted that. "

- Without Serena Williams -

Fifteen of the twenty best in the world are registered in Rome, but with several notable absentees in the Top 10. Besides Federer (N.4), absent until 2021, three of the four semi-finalists of the US Open are missing: Dominic Thiem (N.3), Alexander Zverev (N.7) and Daniil Medvedev (N.5).

The women's tournament is again deprived of its world No. 1, the Australian Ashleigh Barty, who has given up returning to the circuit, both in the United States and in Europe, due to the health situation. .

Serena Williams, suffering from her left Achilles tendon, and Naomi Osaka, respectively semi-finalist and winner at the US Open, are not there either.

But the N.2 Simona Halep, absent in the United States, will be present.

The Romanian recognized the advantage of having been able to "train on clay" but recalled that she has not played in competition since the victory in Prague in mid-August.

The Czech Karolina Pliskova (3rd), defending champion in Rome, will defend her well, after her surprise elimination in the second round of the US Open.

While waiting to get to the heart of the matter, three seeds for the men (Karen Khachanov, N.11, Christian Garín, N.14 and Félix Auger-Aliassime, N.16) and two for the women (Alison Riske , N. 13, Donna Vekic, N.16) are already on the mat.

The French Ugo Humbert (42nd) passed against the South African Kevin Anderson (119th) and will meet in the second round the Italian Fabio Fognini (seeded N.7).

© 2020 AFP